Relay



J. F. MERKEL Cct. 7, 1941.

RELAY Filed Jan. 28', 1939 2 Sheets-Sheer?,A l

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INVENTOR y. Z 722m@ MTREY Oct. 7, 1941.

J. F. MERIKEL RELAY Filed Jan. 28, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY YjELNTOR WW d Patented Oct. 7, 1941 RELAY Joseph F. Merkel, Rochester, N. Y., assigner to General Railway Signal Company, Rochester,

Application January 28, 1939, Serial No. 253,383

(Cl. F75-298) 8 Claims.

This invention relates, in general, to improvements in relays, and has more particular yreference to improvements in the so called Type-B, line of relays, for use more particularly in connection with railway operation.

The type of relays to which the present invention relates, is the plug-in type, whereby the relay external connections can be made and broken by merely plugging the relay into a panel board, or withdrawing it therefrom. Furthermore, these relays are made relatively light and compact, in order to conserve space, and accordingly, when mounted on the supporting panel, the relays are placed relatively closely together to thereby leave very little space between the relays as they project 'forwardly from the panel.

One object of the present invention is to provide a convenient and readily accessible means for making and breaking the energizing circuits for the relays whereby to facilitate checking the operating characteristics of the relays and testing the integrity of the energizing circuits. More specically, means are provided for reaching from the front of the relay support rack, in between the adjacent relays, to break and make the energizing circuits at the support panel. In this connection, means are also provided for facilitating connecting measuring instruments, such as ammeters, into the energizing circuit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for mounting the plug members on the support panel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved adjusting means for varying the resilient bias on the relay armature.

Further objects, purposes and characteristic features of this invention will appear as the description progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawings showing, solely by way of example, and in no manner whatsoever in a limiting sense, one form which the invention can assume.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side sectional elevation, with parts shown in elevation, of a complete relay embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail exploded View of a part of the energizing circuit breaking means.

Fig. 3 is a side View, with parts broken away, and parts shown in section, of the circuit breaking tool and testing device.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig, 5 is an exploded View of the means for Fig. 6 is a perspective, exploded, view, of the armature biasing means.

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the armature biasing means.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to Fig. 1, there is here shown a relay support means for supporting a large number of relays within a confined space. The support means comprises spaced parallel horizontal bars I, to which are connected, by bolts 2, supporting panels 3, of insulating material. Carried by the panels 3 are relays, one of which is shown in Fig. 1.

The relay essentially comprises an insulating base member 4, which bears against the panel 3, a housing 5, which is preferably made of transparent material such as any usual or desired thermal plastic substance, which fits into an annular groove 41 in the base 4. The housing 5, and the base 4, are held together, and are held onto the panel 3, by means of long through bolts 6 which are clamped to the panel 3, by nuts I, and carry on their outer ends, holding nuts 8.

Carried by base member 4, by means of screws 9, are two cores IU, magnetically interconnected by a back strap II, and each carries a winding I2. At the outer end of each core I0, is a pole shoe I3, which cooperates in the usual manner with an armature I4, carrying a residual pin I5, and pivoted at I6, to a fixed member I1. The iixed member I'I is held between the pole shoes I3, and the ends of the spools carrying the windings I2, by means of leaf springs I stationary member II being fastened to the pole shoes I3 by means of screws or the like I9.

The pivoted armature I4, carries an adjustable stop screw 20, for determining its retracted position, and this armature is biased to its retracted, or deenergized, position, by means of a spring 2|, carried on a threaded rod 22, which, at its lower end, is screwed into the fixed member Il. The means for adjusting the tension of spring 2| constitutes one of the features of the present invention, and will be described in detail, below.

The armature carries an operating member 23, which is received in a slot 24, in a contact operator 25, for moving the contact operator, and with it the movable contact fingers 25, which have contact points 21, cooperating with xed front contact points 28, and xed back contact points 29, carried respectively by Xed front and back contact fingers 30 and 3l. Each front and back contact nger has a usual stop plate 32, and pressure plate 33.

holding the plug members in the Support panel. carried by a block of insulating material 34,

The contact fingers are.

which in turn is connected, as at 35, to the relay base member 4.

Each Contact iinger extends to the rear of the carrying block and terminates in an outwardly bent portion whereby adjacent pairs of contact lingers constitute a socket member, to receive a plug member carried by the panel 3, such as the plug member 31.

The plug members, together with their means for holding them in the panel 3, constitute a feature of the present invention, and will be described in considerable detail, below.

In order that it can be readily ascertained whether the relay armature is in its attracted or retra-cted position, a pointer 351 is employed, which is connected to the contact ringer moving parts, as, for example, to the contact nger 311, as at the points 381, the pointer 361 coacting with any suitable reference mark (not shown), on the front face of the housing 5, for example.

Below the relay just described, and having the casing 5, is shown a fragmentary portion of an adjacent relay, having a casing 33, from which it can be seen that the space between the two casings is very narrow. For energizing the windings of each relay there is a lead-in wire, such as 33, fastened to a binding post 4?. The binding post, at its inner end 4l, carries a conducting threaded nut 42, which has an inner cup shaped depression 43 for receiving the cup-like fi,

portion 44 of an insulating washer, having a ange 45 and being backed up by the clamp nut 46, which latter helps to clamp the panel 3 and the lower panel 41, to the adjacent support bar l.

Clamped between the conducting nut 42, and the insulating washer flange 45, is a conducting member 48, of relatively stiff material, in the form of a ribbon, with its upper end connected, at 49, to a lead-in connection 5J going to the winding l2. The lead-out connection E51 from winding i2 is connected, by a wire 5l, to a leadin connection 52, with the lead-Out connection 53 connected to a wire E4, which is connected to a source of energy.

With the construction just described, it can be readily appreciated that the circuit for energizing the relay windings passes from the binding post 4t, through the threaded bolt 4l, the nut 42, the ribbon 4S, etc., and since the ribbon 43 is retained out of electrical connection with the bolt 4l, by means of the cupped portion 44 of the insulating washer, upon turning the conducting nut 42 toward the end of the threaded stem, the connection to the winding is broken, it being borne in mind that the ribbon 43 is relatively stiff and assumes a normal biased position pressing against the flange 45 of the insulating washer.

It is clear that with this arrangement of connection to the operating coils of the relay, a long handled socket wrench can be reached in between the casings 5 and 38, and the nut 42 can be turned to readily break and make the circuit. As an added renernent, and for added facility in testing the energizing circuit, a special wrench tool has been provided, which is shown in detail in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 3, a portion of the leadin circuit for the operating windings oi the relay has been shown by dashed lines, whereby to more clearly illustrate the cooperation of this construction with the operating wren-ch.

This special tool or wrench of Fig. 3, is comprised by a hollow conducting tube 55, of steel or the like, carrying, at one end, two lugs 56, and

a sweated-on enlarged portion 51 of conducting material such as steel. A cup member 58 of insulating material, is slid onto the tube from the other end, and is biased against the portion 51 by a spring 59, bearing against a collar GU, connected by a screw GI, or the like, to the tube 55. Carried by the insulating cup 53, i5 a ring 82 of conducting material, while at the other end oi tube 55, there is fastened an operating handle B3, by means of a pin G4, or the like.

Received within the tube 55, is a rod G5, carrying a ring B6 xed thereto as by a pin 61, for

' affording a stop against which bears a stop 68,

xed to the hollow tube 55, by means of a screw A biasing spring 1D is received on the rod 65, and bears at its inner end against the stop 68, while at its outer end it bears against an operating handle 1l, threaded onto the rod E5, and held in place by a lock nut 12.

On the inner end of rod G5, is threaded a socket member 13, which is in turn threaded to receive the threaded end or the binding post stem 4l, as will be described below in greater detail. Carried on tube 55 is a conducting niember 131, which is biased by a spring 59, against the end of the cup 58, and attached to this conductor member 131, and to the conducting member 52, are two lead wires 14 and 15 respectively. These wires terminate in connecting members 16 and 11, which can be connected to the terminals 18 and 19 of a meter M, which can be an ammeter, for example, and included in the meter circuit is a switch G3, which can be manually operated to connect the meter into a circuit including the lead wires 14 15, or to open the circuit.

In operation, when it is desired to check the operation of the relay, the tool, as shown in Fig. 3, can be reached in from the iront oi the relay rack, and in between the housings 5 and 35, so as to screw the socket member 13 onto the threaded end 4l of the binding post. rIhis forces the lugs 56, in a resilient manner, against the iront end of nut 42. By turning tube 55, by means of its handle 63, lugs 56 will snap into the operating slots 8|, in nut 42, whereby this nut can be turned on its stem to break the electrical connection to the operating winding. Thus, by a slight turn on the handle 63 in one direction, or the other, the circuit can be broken and completed, so that an operator at the front of the relay rack can control the circuit and watch the relay operation at the same time, in a most convenient and satisfactory manner.

In breaking the energizing circuit to the windings of the relay, a gap is opened in the circuit between the ribbon conductor 43, and the conducting nut 42. It will be observed that with the tool in position to control the circuit, the projecting end of the conducting ring 62 bears against the ribbon 43, while the rod 65 is in electrical connection with the threaded end 4| of the binding post. Since the conducting member 131 is in electrical connection with rod 65, it follows that the gap which has been opened between the ribbon 48 and the nut 42 has been, in effect, transferred to the lead wires 14 and 15, whereby it is merely necessary to connect these wires to the meter M, to connect the meter in the relay energizing circuit, and disconnect it therefrom, at will, by means of the hand operated switch SD. Thus, not only the relay operation can be readily observed by an operator who is at the same time controlling the energizing circuit, but the electrical values of the circuit,

such as the current flow, can be readily measured receiving aperture in the panel, each plug memby inserting a meter, or the like, between the ber receives two contact members, with the body leads 14 and 15. portion 96, between the shoulders 91 and the Referring now more particularly to Figs. 6 ears 98, received in the grooves 92, the ears 98 and 7, there is here shown the improved means being bent downwardly as shown at 99, whereby for adjusting spring 2|, which, as can be seen to bring the entire body rearward of the shoul from Fig. l, biases the armature I4 to its deders 91, of the contact piece, within the perimeenergizedcr released, position. This spring 2| ter of the shank 9| of the plug member, so

is sleeved on the rod 22 which, at its upper end, that the plug member can be inserted through is threaded as at 221, and is slotted longitudinally its aperture. After its insertion, the ears 98 as at 82, from its outerend to a considerable are bent to again lie in the same plane as the distance inwardly. This slot 82 receives a folbody of the contact member, whereby to lock lower F, which is a flat plate-like member havthe entire assembly in position, the shoulders 91 ing a lower portion 83 of a width to be received of each contact piece not only bearing against within the spring 2|, with diametrically opposed 15 the front face of the panel 3, when in assembled extending arms 84, which extend beyond the position, but also bearing against shoulders 93 on spring 2| and bear against the upper end thereof. the plug member.

The follower F is completed by an upper por- In this manner, the plug member and the contion 85, which is of a size to be received in tact member are both prevented, by their shoul the threaded central bore 88, in adjusting nut ders 931 and 91, respectively, from being pushed N, the bore 86 being threadable onto the end through panel 3 from the front, and are preo'f the rod 221. Nut N has an outer knurled vented from being withdrawn from the panel portion 81 and a reduced inner portion 88, of in a forward direction, by means of the shoula size to be received within the spring 2|, the ders 91 of the contact members and the ears nut being slotted by two transverse slots 89 25 98 of the same members. To the end of the and 98 positioned preferably at 90 from each body portions, 96, are connected the lead-in wires other so as to receive the arms 81|, of follower 961, as by soldering or otherwise connecting F, in either of two positions. them thereto.

With the arrangement as described just above, With the various improvements as described when it is desired to vary the tension of the above, it is obvious that a relay has been prospring 2|, as, for example, to increase it, it is duced which has several very distinct advannecessary merely to push the follower F in its tages over what has heretofore been known. slot in the threaded stem, to compress the spring, To summarize, the relays can be mounted in and then to turn nut N on the threaded stem close proximity to each other, on a plug board, to the proper position and permit the follower with all of the lead-in wires connectable to and F to be urged by the spring 2| toward the nut disconnectable from, the relay, by merely plugto cause the arms 84 to enter one of the slots ging the relay in and pulling it out; with a con- 89 or 90. In this manner. all parts are locked venient means available for testing the relay by in adjusted position and the adjustment cannot opening the energizing circuit and bringing the be accidentally changed. This follows, since the circuit to the front of the relays whereby to conthreaded stem 22 is in fixed position, the folveniently measure the constants of the circuit lower is locked to the stem by the slot in the bly a meter, for example. stem, and the nut is locked to the stem by the Furthermore, a securely locked adjusting follower. It is obvious, of course, in order to means for a biasing spring for the armature has decrease the tension of the spring, that the nut 5 been provided, which has no binding parts, and

can be eased olf, and the same general prowhich, for itsmanipulation, requires no special cedure followed. tools or equipment, other than the hand.

It should be noted that the locking of all of Again, there has been provided a ready and the Darts has been accomplished without the simple and economical means for fastening the need for a wrench, or other tool, for producing plugs of a plug coupler, together with the conhigh degrees of friction between parts, and also met members they carry, in Openings in a panel so that a subsequent adjustment can be made board so that the parts are secured in place by hand without the use of any special tools, against accidental displacement. as a wrench. The above rather specific description of one Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, wherein is form of the present invention, has been given shown the manner in which the plug members solely by way of example, and is not intended, 31 are inserted into, and connected to, panel in any manner whatsoever, in a limiting sense. 3, there is here shown the plug member proper It should be understood that this application is 31, of insulating material having a shank 9| intended to cover all such modifications, adaptawhich is generally circular in cross-section and (-3 tions and variations as may prove desirable or is furnished with diametrically positioned relaexpedient, except insofar as they are specically tively shallow grooves 92, and an enlarged head excluded by a reasonable interpretation of the whereby to provide stop shoulders 93. Thus, appended claims.

the plug member can be inserted through the Having described my invention, I now claim: opening 94, in panel member 3, from the front, @5 1. In a relay plug board for mounting plug-in with the depth of insertion limited by shoultype relays, a plug board, an opening in the ders 931. board, a plug of insulating material having a Carried by plug member 31, are two contact shank snugly receivable in the opening and an members, which are identical, and each of which enlarged head forming a shoulder with the body comprises a head portion 95, connected to a relaand bearing against the face of the board when tively narrow body portion 96, to thereby afford 'the shank is fully inserted, a longitudinal groove stop shoulders 91, the body portion 9B extending in the shank, a shoulder at the forward end of a considerable distance and intermediate its ends the groove, a conducting contactor having a body having transverse ears 98. receivable in the groove and an enlarged head Before the plug member is inserted into the I5 forming a shoulder with the body that bears against the groove shoulder when the contactor body is in the plug groove, and an ear extending laterally from the body of the contactor and spaced from the enlarged head a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the plug board.

2. In a relay plug board for mounting plug-in type relays, a plug board, an opening in the board, a plug of insulating material having a shank snugly receivable in the opening and an enlarged head forming a shoulderV with the body and bearing against the board when the shank is fully inserted, a longitudinal groove in the shank, a shoulder at the forward end of the groove, a conducting contactor having a body receivable in the groove and an enlarged head forming a shoulder with the body that bears against the groove shoulder when the contactor body is in the plug groove, and an ear extending laterally from the body of the contacter and spaced from the enlarged head a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the plug board, whereby the ear can be bent out of the plane of the body to permit its insertion, with the plug shank, through the board, and then bent back into the plane of the body to thus lock both plug and contacter in assembled position.

3. In a relay plug board for mounting plug-in type relays, a plug board, an opening in the board, a plug of insulating material having a shank snugly receivable in the opening and an enlarged head forming a shoulder vwith the body and bearing against the board when the shank is fully inserted, a longitudinal groove in diametrically opposed faces in the shank, a shoulder at the forward end of each groove, a conducting contacter having a body receivable in each groove and an enlarged head forming a shoulder with the body that bears against the groove shoulder when the contacter body is in the plug groove, and an ear extending laterally from the body of each contacter and spaced from the enlarged head a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the plug board.

ll. In a relay, in combination, a relay operating coil, a circuit for energizing the coil and including, in series, a plug, a socket receiving the plug, a binding post, a conducting threaded stem on the post, a conducting nut on the stem, a ribbon conductor connected at one end to the plug and an insulating washer on the stem, the other end of the ribbon conductor being clamped between the nut and the washer and out of contact with the stem.

5. In a relay, in combination, a relay operating coil, a circuit for energizing the coil and including, in series, a plug, a socket receiving the plug, a binding post, a conducting threaded stein on the post, a conducting nut on the stem, a ribbon conductor connected at one end to the plug, an insulating washer on the stem, the other end of the ribbon conductor being clamped between the nut and the washer and out of contact with the stem, the ribbon conductor being made of relatively stiil material and biased against the washer, whereby movement of the nut along the stem away from, and against, the ribbon conductor, respectively breaks and makes the circuit to the relay coil.

6. In combination, a plurality of plug-in type relays, a relayrack formed by a plurality of support panels, bolts clamping Aadjacent panels together, plugs in the panels for receiving relays closely spaced from each other and extending forwardly of the rack, each relay having an operating coil, a circuit for energizing the coil and including, in series, a plug, a socket receiving the plug, and a binding post constituted by one of the said bolts, a conducting threaded stem on the post, a conducting nut on the stem, and a ribbon conductor connected at one end to the plug, an insulating washer on the stem, the other end of the ribbon conductor being clamped between the nut and the Washer and out of contact with the stem, and a socket Wrench for the conducting nut having a handle longer than the distance the relays project from the rack.

7. In combination, a plurality of plug-in type relays, a relay rack formed by a plurality of support panels, bolts clamping adjacent panels together, plugs in the panels for receiving relays closely spaced from each other and extending forwardly of the rack, each relay having an operating coil, a circuit for energizing the coil and including, in series, a plug, a socket receiving the plug, and a binding post constituted by one of the said bolts, a conducting threaded stem on the post, a conducting nut on the stem, a ribbon conductor connected at one end to the plug, an insulating washer on the stem, the other end of the ribbon conductor being clamped between the nut and the washer and out of contact with the stem, a socket wrench for the conducting nut having a handle longer than the distance the relays project from the rack, and two electrically insulated, conductir'rfr elements on the wrench positioned to contact with the ribbon and the threaded stem when the wrench is applied to the conducting nut, and lead wires, respectively connected to the said elements.

8. In combination, a plurality of plug-in type relays, a relay rack formed by a plurality of support panels, a bolt clamping adjacent panels together, plugs in the panels for receiving relays closely spaced from each other and extending forwardly of the rack, -each relay having an operating coil, a circuit for energizing the coil and including, in series, a plug, a socket receivinU the plug, and a binding post constituted by one of the said bolts, a conducting threaded stern on the post, a conducting nut on the stem, a ribbon conductor connected at one end to the plug, an insulating Washer on the stem, the other end of the ribbon conductor being clamped between the nut and the washer and out of contact with the stem, and a socket wrench for the conducting nut having a length greater than the distance the relays project from the rack and two electrically insulated, conducting elements on the wrench positioned to connect with the ribbon and the threaded stem when the wrench is applied to the conducting nut, lead wires, respectively connected to the said elements, whereby to permit ready access to the circuit without moving the plug-in relay or going to the rear of the relay rack.

JOSEPH F. MERKEL. 

